BIMHUIS TV Presents: Ceramic Dog

Guitarist and jazz outsider, known for his collaborations with Tom Waits and Elvis Costello. Marc Ribot guitar, voice, Shahzad Ismaily percussion, utility player, Ches Smith drums. American guitarist Marc Ribot knows his way around every style without losing his identity. His trademark grainy riffs seem to fit in everywhere, from Cuban to country. He’s widely known from his contributions on albums by Tom Waits, Elvis Costello and The Black Keys. He began his career in the New York underground, playing with Lounge Lizards and John Zorn. As a self-confessed outsider in jazz he nevertheless headlined the New York jazz temple Village Vanguard for a week, joining a select club of band leaders. Ribot has set the BIMHUIS stage alight many times with Ceramic Dog. This energetic trio can easily move from angular songs to exuberant rock riffs to whimsical jazz, and anything in between. Multi-instrumentalist Shahzad Ismaily (who played with Will Oldham and Colin Stetson) can switch from distorted bass guitar to cheerful organ. And drummer Ches Smith alternates tight backbeats with electronic experiments. The many recordings they have made during lockdown resulted in the album Hope, which closes with a surprising cover of Wear Your Love Like Heaven by singer-songwriter Donovan.